“I’ll go over there and see them,” I said. “I’m doing all right. I don’t want you guys to worry about me, okay? This all really sucks, but I’ll get through it.”
“You’re so strong,” she said with a smile. “I’m sure it will all work out the way it’s supposed to, Kinsley. If I’ve learned anything from you, it’s that if you believe, the universe will take care of you.”
“You’re right, and that’s the angle I’m approaching this whole thing at, Viv. I’m going to keep my chin up and not freak out until I know something for sure,” I said. It was a lie. I was freaking out on the inside, but saying it helped me feel a little stronger.
“You know that I’m here for you if you need anything,” Viv said as she handed me my coffee and breakfast in a brown paper sack.
“Thank you so much for everything. I’m sorry I didn’t get to try the cake,” I said.
“Well, if you ever want to, let me know. I’ll bake you another lickety-split. Probably not seventeen tiers, but I promise you won’t be disappointed,” she said.
“I would love that,” I said.
As I walked across the square, Meri came running out from the other side of the courthouse. He joined me as we walked past the deconstruction of the haunted house.
No one was around, so I said, “I can’t believe they are tearing it down and putting up the Santa house so fast.” What I could have sworn was a single snowflake drifted down out of the dreary sky and landed on my nose. “I kinda hate how the Christmas season starts immediately after Halloween. Like, why does it have to be the next day? And what about Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving deserves some love too.”
“I think it’s all kind of stupid,” Meri groused.
“Did you find Thorn?” I asked curiously.
“How do you know I was looking for him?” Meri asked.
“I know you,” I said.
“I didn’t find him, so he’s probably still alive,” he said.
“You cannot kill Thorn,” I whispered.
“Relax, lady,” he said and then darted ahead to wait at the door of the shop.
We went inside and found Reggie and Ursula frantically trying to get things ready to open. I tried to help, but it became obvious after a few minutes that they had a system. I was only being a hindrance.
They stopped working long enough to hug me and for me to tell them I was doing okay. After that, I left and said I’d be back later.
That’s when I decided to go to the sheriff’s station and talk to Thorn. I hated barging in on him at work uninvited, but we had to have a conversation. If nothing else, if he was leaving me for good, I needed to know.
When I walked into the station and asked to see Thorn, the receptionist called Jeremy. “I want to see Thorn,” I said.
She looked at me with pity in her eyes. Everyone knew. “He’s not in, but the acting sheriff will be out in a moment.”
Acting sheriff? Had Thorn already quit and left town?
Jeremy appeared before I could even sit down to wait for him. “Kinsley, come on back.”
The receptionist buzzed me in, and I followed Jeremy to his office. It was next to Thorn’s, and I could see that my maybe-fiancé’s door was closed.
“Where’s Thorn?” I asked as soon as we were in Jeremy’s office.
“You don’t know?” he asked with a sigh.
“I don’t,” I said. “He never came home after the… after what was supposed to be the wedding. He’s sent me one text, and he won’t return any texts or calls.”
“He’s taken a few days off,” Jeremy said and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know where he is. He’s just using vacation time and left me in charge.”
I felt a tear finally spill over and run down my cheek, but I ground it away with my fist and bit my lip hard. I was not going to break down in Jeremy’s office.
“I’d like to see Azriel,” I said before I could really think about it. “It’s technically during allowable visiting hours, right? I’d like to see him.”
“Kinsley,” he warned.
“You can stop the big brother act, Jeremy. I want to see him,” I said.
“It’s not an act,” Jeremy said, and I could see that my words had wounded him.
I instantly felt horrible. What was happening wasn’t in any way Jeremy’s fault, and he did try to protect me. As far as big brothers went, he would’ve been a good one. He was a good one, and I was just being a jerk. We might not have been blood, but he treated me as if we were.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I know that, and I’m… I’m so on edge right now.”
“That’s why I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to visit Azriel. I know you can make up your own mind, Kinsley, but you’re vulnerable right now. Thorn shouldn’t have left you this way, and I blame him for what you’re going through right now, but he wouldn’t want you hurt. He wouldn’t want this to get worse. I know it.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “I want to talk to him. Please.”
“All right, but I’ll never forgive myself if he makes this worse for you,” Jeremy said.
He came back around the desk and opened his office door. I followed him out and we walked together the short distance to the holding area.
“You shouldn’t take this on yourself, Jeremy. There’s nothing to forgive yourself for because I’m a grown woman. I’m demanding something that’s probably stupid, and that’s on me.”
He let out a sigh. “Then why do it?”
“Closure,” I said. “I’m willing to take the risk for closure.”
“Okay,” he said and gripped my shoulder for just a second. “I don’t have any official visiting area. It’s probably best for you to just talk
